Raised By Robots

Can a machine really be creative—or is it just following patterns? In this episode of Raised by Robots, Nolan sits down with Professor Ahmed Elgammal, a leading researcher at the intersection of artificial intelligence and art, to explore one of the most debated questions in AI today. From his early passion for art in Alexandria to building AICAN—a system designed not to imitate the past but to generate entirely new artistic styles—Professor Elgammal explains how machines “learn” creativity and where they fall short. The conversation breaks down the difference between generating images and creating art, why most AI tools today may not truly be creative, and how randomness, human input, and intent all play a role. They also explore deeper questions: Who owns AI generated art? Is training on human artists fair? And will AI replace artists or become their most powerful tool? This episode challenges the idea that creativity is uniquely human and reframes it as something more complex, evolving, and still not fully understood. Covered themes:What creativity really means (and where AI fits)AICAN and how machines can generate novel artDifference between images, art, and human intentEthics and ownership of AI generated contentWhether AI will compete with or empower artists

Before there are chatbots, before there are models, before there is AI — there are builders. In this episode, Nolan speaks with Professor Dave Patterson of University of California, Berkeley, one of the most influential computer engineers in the world and a pioneer of RISC architecture — the design approach behind most modern computing systems. Patterson explains how hardware quietly powers every AI breakthrough, why compute and energy are becoming the real constraints, and how the structure of machines shapes what AI can and cannot become. This conversation breaks down the invisible layer beneath AI — and why understanding it matters.In this episode:Hardware as the hidden foundation of AIThe RISC revolution and why simplicity wonAI as both a scientific race and an economic gold rushWhere AI lives: cloud vs. edgeCompute and energy as emerging limitsCentralization vs. distribution of AI powerBuilders vs. users — and why expertise still matters

Everyone is talking about the future of AI—but not everyone is talking to the people building it.I’m Nolan, I’m 13, and on Raised by Robots, I explore artificial intelligence by speaking with the engineers, researchers, and founders shaping it.This is a short introduction to the show.